JAMMU, May 31: Karan Bhagat, National Coordinator of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Scheduled Caste Department and Co-Incharge for Punjab in the party’s SC Department, today expressed serious concern over the persistent social, economic, educational and political challenges confronting the Scheduled Caste (SC) community in Jammu and Kashmir and called for comprehensive policy interventions to ensure their empowerment and inclusive development.
Addressing party workers, social activists and members of the Scheduled Caste community, Bhagat said that despite constitutional safeguards and various welfare measures, a significant section of the SC population in Jammu and Kashmir continues to face multiple barriers in accessing opportunities, resources and adequate representation in governance.
He said that the Congress Party has always stood firmly for social justice, equality and the upliftment of marginalized communities and remains committed to safeguarding the rights and interests of Scheduled Castes across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir.Highlighting the issue of political empowerment, Bhagat said the SC community deserves adequate representation in decision-making institutions and governance structures. He emphasized that effective implementation of political reservations and greater participation of Scheduled Castes in policy formulation are essential for ensuring inclusive governance and strengthening democracy at the grassroots level.
Expressing concern over unemployment among educated SC youth, Bhagat said thousands of reserved vacancies remain unfilled in various government departments. He called for immediate filling of backlog vacancies and the launch of special recruitment drives to provide employment opportunities to deserving candidates. He further stressed the need for strict implementation of reservation policies in recruitment and promotions to ensure that constitutional guarantees are translated into tangible benefits.
The Congress leader noted that educational advancement remains the most effective tool for social transformation. However, many students from economically weaker SC families continue to face challenges due to inadequate scholarship support, shortage of hostels, limited coaching facilities and insufficient educational infrastructure in several areas. He urged the administration to strengthen educational support systems and expand access to professional and technical education for SC students.
Bhagat also highlighted the economic hardships faced by many Scheduled Caste families, particularly landless labourers, sanitation workers, daily wagers and marginalized households. He advocated for targeted skill development programmes, entrepreneurship promotion, enhanced access to institutional credit and self-employment opportunities to improve livelihoods and create sustainable economic growth within the community.
Referring to the plight of Safai Karamcharis and sanitation workers, Bhagat said many continue to work under difficult conditions despite rendering essential public services. He demanded regularization of eligible workers, improved service conditions, adequate social security coverage, healthcare facilities and strict adherence to safety standards. He also reiterated the need for complete eradication of manual scavenging and effective rehabilitation of affected families.
The AICC leader further raised concerns regarding land and housing issues affecting economically weaker SC families. He called for the protection of residential rights, provision of affordable housing and resolution of long-pending land disputes that continue to affect vulnerable sections of society.
Bhagat observed that many SC-dominated villages and urban localities continue to face deficiencies in basic infrastructure, including roads, drinking water supply, drainage systems, healthcare facilities and educational institutions. He urged the government to adopt a focused development strategy to improve living conditions and bridge developmental gaps in such areas.
Emphasizing the importance of social justice, he said there must be strict enforcement of legal protections available to Scheduled Castes and speedy redressal of complaints relating to discrimination and denial of rights. He stressed the need for greater awareness regarding welfare schemes, legal safeguards and opportunities available to marginalized communities.
Bhagat also called for timely disbursement of scholarships, pensions and other welfare benefits, besides ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of SC welfare programmes. He advocated increased budgetary allocations for Scheduled Caste welfare and strengthening of institutions dedicated to their socio-economic advancement.
Referring to the aspirations of the younger generation, Bhagat stressed the need for employment-oriented skill development programmes, coaching facilities for competitive examinations, promotion of entrepreneurship and digital literacy initiatives to equip SC youth with the tools necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing economy.
“The Scheduled Caste community has played a vital role in nation-building and deserves equal access to opportunities, dignity, justice and development. True progress can be achieved only when the most marginalized sections are empowered and become active participants in the country’s growth story,” Bhagat said.
He reaffirmed the Congress Party’s commitment to protecting constitutional values, strengthening social justice mechanisms and raising the voice of the Scheduled Caste community at every platform until their legitimate aspirations and rights are fully realized.